Ordinary diners who take part in our annual survey each spring review restaurants and leave their feedback, but we also ask them to score restaurants from 1-5 on food, service and ambience. Harden’s then uses an average of these scores and measures them against other establishments in the same price bracket to arrive at the ratings published in the guide and online.

Snippets from some of your feedback may end up in the overall Harden’s review, noticeably they appear in “double quotation marks”. The rest of our pithy, bite-sized restaurant summaries are compiled by analysing the survey data and extracting recurring themes, looking at whether or not a venue was nominated in any of our categories – like ‘favourite’ or ‘most overpriced’ – and, of course, looking at the ratings for food, service and ambience.

The Harden’s ratings indicate that a restaurant is:

exceptional very good good average poor

All reviews are compiled from survey comments and ratings, without any regard for our own personal opinions, except in cases where restaurants are too new to have been included in the survey. If you want the editors’ view on new restaurants in London you can find them in our Editors’ Review section.

British, Modern restaurant in London

Restaurant Closed

Stop Press!

December 2018: It has been announce that Fera will close on New Year's Eve 2018. There is a rumour that hot Manhattan restaurant Eleven Madison Park may soon move in, although the hotel is keeping quiet until the New Year. January 2019 - See Davies & Brook.

Harden's
survey result

Summary

“Seemingly doing just fine post-Simon Rogan” – this “beautiful” Art Deco chamber appears to have shrugged off the loss of the L’Enclume chef in April 2017, and although Matt Starling’s ambitious cuisine is maybe a fraction less highly rated, most reports are of meals that are “perfect in every way” (even “if, like me, you were/are a Rogan fan, Fera should remain on your list!”). The “gracious and comfortable space” is “made to impress” (and “lends itself to romance or business”); “caring” service “puts you at your ease”; and where the cooking is concerned (experienced via the à la carte or the five-course and seven-course tasting menus) “you really feel the passion for the ingredients and, although stylish, there’s no sacrifice of substance and flavour”. Top Tip: “it can seem pricey unless set lunch is selected – £42 for an impeccably prepared three courses”.

Price

£122

£££££

Food

4

Very Good

Service

4

Very Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Summary

“Here’s hoping it sustains its magic post Simon Rogan” – In April 2017, the L’Enclume chef terminated his tenure at this “beautiful Art Deco chamber”, leaving his head chef Matt Starling to maintain the “exotic and quixotic” dishes (“delicately balanced between being intriguing and not daunting”) that have placed this famously elegant hotel’s dining room firmly in London’s first rank. Claridge’s had a good record of running this restaurant prior to any celebrity involvement, and – though there may be some bumps after his departure – we’d wager this “superb” all-rounder will maintain its appeal.

Price

£108

£££££

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Summary

“Utterly sublime on every level” – Simon Rogan’s three-year-old tenure in this “luxurious” (and “surprisingly large”) Art Deco dining room has hit an even stride, providing “mindblowing food that’s experimental and fun”, “warm service” and a “glorious” atmosphere (although “the earthenware plates do clash a bit with the decor”). “It’s not a budget option” (“prices are unjustifiable” for a few reporters) but, Top Tip – “set lunch is fantastic value”. This year Rogan also added the new Aulis ‘6-seat development table’ in a private room off the kitchen: “a magical, innovative dining experience – what makes it incredible is listening to Dan talk about the ingredients, how the team came across it, and the thinking and creative process behind each course.”

Price

£116

£££££

Food

4

Very Good

Service

4

Very Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Summary

After a dazzling debut, Simon Rogan’s second year in this “stunning” Art Deco chamber still inspires adulation for his “wizard” tasting menus and “astonishingly good wine matches”. Prices, however, are “breathtaking”, and ratings slipped perceptibly across the board this year, with growing gripes about “an absence of fireworks”.

Price

£144

£££££

Food

3

Good

Service

4

Very Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

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